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South Korea's Kia Motors signed a deal with a local company Thursday to start assembling cars in Ethiopia and is thinking of similar operations elsewhere in Africa.
"It is important to penetrate the African market. We are also looking at the prospects of opening similar plants in Algeria and other countries," Soon Nam Lee, President of Kia's Middle East and Africa headquarters, told Reuters.
Kia and Belayab Motors PLC, with whom it signed the agreement, said the plant in the town of Adama south of the capital Addis Ababa, will produce its first vehicle in January.
"We plan to produce 3,000 vehicles of three models every year," Fikadu Girma, Belayab's general manager, told Reuters, adding the amount could rise to 9,000 if extra shifts are added.
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"It is important to penetrate the African market. We are also looking at the prospects of opening similar plants in Algeria and other countries," Soon Nam Lee, President of Kia's Middle East and Africa headquarters, told Reuters.
Kia and Belayab Motors PLC, with whom it signed the agreement, said the plant in the town of Adama south of the capital Addis Ababa, will produce its first vehicle in January.
"We plan to produce 3,000 vehicles of three models every year," Fikadu Girma, Belayab's general manager, told Reuters, adding the amount could rise to 9,000 if extra shifts are added.
voanews